Member States will discuss veterinary and sanitary policy on Monday

Brussels, 18/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - Agricultural Ministers from EU Member States will be in Luxembourg on Monday at 15h to hold discussions that will mainly focus on proposals or subject that are linked to veterinary or sanitary policy. The key point involves the proposal on the conditions for sanitary insurance on the movement of non-commercial animals (pets, such as dogs, cats ferrets) on which the Council is seeking a political agreement for a common position. Acting President of the Agriculture Council, Spanish Minister Miguel Arias Canete, will be presenting to his counterparts two memorandums - one on the Community Veterinary Fund (see EUROPE 12 April page 7) and the other on equal opportunities for those in the countryside. The following points form a summary of the main items on the agenda:

• Domestic animals: the Council is expected to reach an agreement on this dossier (examination according to co-decision procedure) pending for several months because of differences between Member States on measures for avoiding transmission of rabies. Most delegations consider that effective identification (tattooing or electronic tagging) and vaccination would be enough. This is opposed by the United Kingdom, Ireland and Sweden, (which practise quarantine to ensure their rabies-free status). These latter countries are requesting that supplementary guarantees (to safeguard their tighter national systems: Editor's note) such as the systematic inspection by anti-body-titration as an immunity response to vaccination.

The work that has taken place at a "veterinary" group level at the Council has enabled a solution to be found on the subject of identification conditions, whereas certain problems persist in the area of vaccination. A transition period of 8 years is planned for identification, which will identify cats and dogs by tattooing or transponder. At the end of this period, the Council will decide on keeping one or both identification systems, depending on what conclusions have been drawn from the report that the Commission will draft on the matter in January 2009. In the area of vaccination, the compromise envisages that the United Kingdom, Ireland and Sweden can keep their national practices for a transition period of 5 Years (the period could be extended after the agreement by majority voting at the Council). These countries will decide on the movement of animals by way of a veterinary passport certifying the presence of neutralising antibodies. Ireland and the United Kingdom will be able to apply a six-month period between the serological tests and the import of the animal. For Sweden this period will stand at 4 months. The International Organisation on Epizooties (IOE) only recommends three months.

• Elimination of anti-biotics: Commissioner David Byrne will present his proposal of 25 March on additives in animal-feed, which aims at the gradual phasing out from 2006 of the four anti-biotics that are still allowed that promote animal growth (see EUROPE 25-26 March page 9). Mr Byrne will also be reviewing, together with the ministries, the latest developments on BSE: possible transmission of BSE to sheep; results of traceability testing for scrapie and BSE in cattle; risks linked to the non-removal of the small intestine of small ruminants (within the framework of measures linked to specific at-risk materials).
• Contribution of women to rural development: In their reflection document that suggests Community policies for strengthening the capability of women's organisations in rural areas, the Presidency points out that in 1997: out of 7 million agricultural enterprises, 19% were women, in the Netherlands this is 6%, Denmark 7%, Italy 24% and Austria 29%; 82% of the 100 enterprises managed by women would be described a "small" and only 3% as "large". This will be the subject of the public debate at the Agriculture Council in May.

Italy will be raising the question of the situation of young farmers, a theme on which it wants a European conference. Greece will be drawing the attention of the Council and the Commission to measures taken by Argentina restricting imports of canned peaches. Greece will be criticising customs duties imposed by the Argentineans, which have risen to 125% of product value on peaches from Greece.